It’s an emergency. Mine is a bomb. It has been given two months to live. Yet it’s up for inspection and won’t pass without some pricey repairs. This means I need a new car yesterday.

I’m looking for a small wagon, something roomy but with good gas mileage.

My mechanic is trying to sell me a used Toyota Echo. It gets 40 miles to the gallon. Bonus. It’s got low mileage and an affordable price tag. Triple bonus.

It’s puny. Not a bonus.

I’m thinking, once my hockey bag, my kids and my dog are in the car,there won’t be any room left for groceries. Not to mention friends.

I don’t want a big car. I’m not a mini-van mom. But I don’t want a tiny car either. We’re a sporty family. We have been known to carry a lot of crap with us: skis, skates, snowboards, bikes, helmets, extra clothes, pound cakes…

And how would I find this thing in a snowbank?

But I’m wondering if maybe I could learn to live with a small car, if I could adapt, suck it up, make do, get a top box, and get over my belief that my car is an extension of my breastspenisego personality.

Because, really, all a car needs is a steering wheel, four wheels, seats, brakes and a gas pedal. Right? Or am I kidding myself? Will I want to shoot myself for buying this car within a month?

What would you do? What do you drive? Does anyone have two kids and a small car?

66 Responses to Can moms drive puny cars?

You’ve lived overseas, large vehicles are largely an American anomaly. If everyone else can live without them, so could we if we really wanted to. Most of the wagons and cross over SUVs are on a car chassis so they’re the same size as a sedan, they’re just taller and give the deceptive sense of being larger when they’re actually not. Unless you’re going to get something really big, there’s little real difference.

Get the car you want and that suits you, but don’t fool yourself into believing it’s a need.

So sensible. And at such a late hour. You are exactly right. This car in question is a normal sized car in Europe. Thanks. I’ll sleep on it.

Momof4says:

November 1, 2011 at 9:17 pm

I couldn’t do it. Most small cars would not fit my family (and that is a necessity) We have a mini-van and one of the largest SUV’s Why? because with the mini-van we had 3 kids with car seats and needed something bigger than my 4 seat car (5 people, 4 seats doesn’t work), when the littlest one came along we now needed 4 car seats worth of space, plus space for our two dogs and our travel bags because we were going 5 hour trips every other weekend to visit my stepson… Do you realize you take the whole house when you have one baby, imagine with 4…

We could not survive, our 6 person family can not legally fit in a 4 person car.

Sorry no advice here, but if you have 4 people, get a 4 person car and hope for cargo room or roof racks at least.

Rebeccasays:

November 1, 2011 at 9:23 pm

Betsy where you live it seems like all-wheel drive would be a basic requirement. Which means Subaru. They run forever, get ok mileage and are pretty much the state car of Vermont. What’s not to love?

I drove an Outback for many years and loved it. Then it succumbed to the cracked head gasket disease that Outbacks often get. I have learned that good snow tires are all you really need. All -wheel drive is for the tourists. (: Kidding, sort of. I’ll admit, those Subarus are like little tanks in the snow. The mpg isn’t great though.

Don’t do it! I have a scion xb. Probably the worst choice I’ve ever made. I have two kids and lugging sports gear around from game to game and all the stuff needed for the day (cooler for lunch and drinks, lawn chairs, on hot days a pop-up canopy), we still need to fold down 1 rear seat to fit everything in. Not to mention, my husband is the coach so he needs the team equipment as well. With 1 rear seat folded down, both kids have to squish onto the other seat. Good thing they are small still (10 & 7), but with baby #3 on the way, we are facing the same dilemma as you. So sorry, but my advice would be to get the bigger car even though the gas mileage is more crappy.

Angelinesays:

November 1, 2011 at 10:07 pm

We just bought a used Pontiac Grand Prix for our family of four and we love it. It’s a full size with a very roomy trunk. It has a roomy interior, it’s not oversized, and it feels “sporty” to drive.

I drive a Pontiac Grand Prix too, and I love it! But I also spent years with a teeny tiny Dodge Neon, and I was fine. Shlepped around car seats and baby gear and everything. Stick a storage rack and a bike rack on the sucker and you’ll be just fine

Kellysays:

November 1, 2011 at 11:08 pm

I went from a Jeep Grand Cherokee (my first car and drove it for 16 years) to a Nissan Versa hatchback. I have had it for 3 years and love it! The interior is just as roomy as my Jeep was, especially the backseat. It gets 30+ miles per gallon city. The only drawback has been trunk space. It’s limited but I have learned to live with it. And pack lighter:)

Rachelsays:

November 2, 2011 at 12:07 am

I drive a Honda Fit and LOVE it. It fits more than most larger cars in terms of storage, depending on how many kids are in it. and I love the gas mileage and low car payments.
That said, with number 2 on the way, I do not feel comfortable having either child in the car except in the middle seat. We live in an urban area and with all the ginormous SUVs taking over the roads, there is a risk of a bad impact if we got in an accident. If all cars were the same size as mine, it’d be awesome. But they aren’t. So we are looking at possibly a Subaru Outback. not ginormous – I do not need an SUV for two kids lol. Still decent gas mileage and it isn’t a huge car payment. AWD is a nice bonus. It isn’t a necessity where we live, but it sounds quite useful for where you are.

Isasays:

November 2, 2011 at 1:06 am

I have a Chevy Malibu. We are a family of four. But man, we feel like we’ve outgrown it. There’s no space between the front seat and the backseat because of the carseats. My daughter and husband both of long legs and they’re jammed up in there! My husbands knees touch the dashboard when he drives. I, however, am short and fit perfectly in the car.

sharon in praguesays:

November 2, 2011 at 3:28 am

I think you would need something roomier. All that winter gear takes up space, and he kids … I have a scooter, extra booster seat, football kit ;-), large swim bag, extra diapers and my emergency bag of car stuff, and it isn’t even winter yet! Maybe another Outback?

sharon in praguesays:

November 2, 2011 at 3:31 am

Opps, and what I drive, Volvo 90 (the SUV). I did have a small euro car, until baby #2 was born and we got the Volvo station wagon. Then baby #3 came, and it was the SUV/built in booster seat seat/extra row that I needed Definately not gas friendly. And as an unexperienced snow/ice driver, I like the all-wheel drive and the heaviness of it.

kathielee46says:

November 2, 2011 at 4:22 am

i drive a toyota camry. fantastically huge trunk (like can hold the huge sam’s club groceries, a trip to target, AND the grocery store. very roomy in the back, and i drive about 150 miles a week and only go through a half a tank of gas every two weeks. i LOVE it!

micsays:

November 2, 2011 at 4:24 am

roof racks, and a small car work ok, but do check first if you, Ian, both girls, the dog, and two suitcases will fit.
Its surprising how much will fit in a well designed smaller car. My old honda hatchback was plenty big enough. The newer accord is just barely big enough, because the inside is not so well designed.

Katsays:

November 2, 2011 at 4:59 am

I made the decision to downsize about 2 years ago and never looked back. We went from a Nissan Murano to a Prius and love it. Key decision factors for us in a smaller car were:
– have a hatchback so that our 3 boxers can ride in the back (and can fold seats down if needed)
– have the ability to expand to a roof rack when gear necessitates
– have enough room for 2 car seats, and a 3rd if absolutely necessary (Prius can fit 3 across with certain seats)…and have enough legroom up front to not feel squished. I am 5’10 and have plenty of leg room with a rear facing seat behind me

Figure out what your “rules” are and shop from there. Good luck!

K

momof2says:

November 2, 2011 at 5:03 am

i have 2 kids 10 & 8, we have a 4 door honda civic. it’s a tiny car, fun to drive & fits the 3 of us & 2 friends without an issue. probably the biggest car i will ever own will be maybe a camry. but i do love my civic, it gets great gas mileage & its fun to drive.

Elizabeth K.says:

November 2, 2011 at 5:19 am

We have an Echo and we live in Northern NY – which means lots of snow for a lot of year. And so far, it’s done pretty well. If there are drifts, it IS prone to getting stuck because it’s low to the ground, but for the most part our towns are great about keeping roads clear. Now, if you live in the country where the plowing is sketchy or nonexistent, you may not be able to cut it. I will say that I love our Echo, and we’ve successfully fit three carseats in the backseat, a stroller in the trunk, and also $200.00 worth of groceries. And, we have it for 7 years, it has 97000 miles and we’ve have very, very few problems with it (just the basic wear and tear stuff).

Beksays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:22 am

We have a mini-van for three car seats, but also have a Toyota Matrix for when we were a family of 4. I LOVE it. It was roomy enough that we could make a 13 hour car ride with two kids and a 90 lb dog, plus all our stuff. I figure if we can do that, you can do ski and hockey runs with your girls

I like my mini-van, in that I like having a second car (first time in 5 years of marriage for that!), but when I drive, I prefer a smaller car.

So all that to say, I think you can still drive a smaller car and be just fine

I have friends who own a Matrix and love it. If I could find a new one, I would definitely consider that. I think the size is a step above the Echo but the mileage is still good.

Bevsays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:27 am

I have 3 kids and the tiniest little scion xa and it is wonderful!! Save tons on gas and everyone fits! Plus, it’s not like we’re driving cross country in it. Americans are so about oversized everything – the minute they have one child they run out and buy an SUV.

Danny's Mommasays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:29 am

We went to Flordia recently and were given a Ford Escape for a rental. It looks like an SUV, but has the most amazing gas mileage ever. Once I got over crushing fact that we had reserved a Charger and they ran out and gave us a Ford Escap instead, I realized it wasn’t SO bad. It’s definitely not an ego boosting car, but it looks nice and has great mileage. You’ll just have to ignore your macho cousin laughing at you telling you it sounds like a sewing machine.

My actual car is a PT Cruiser. Again, not an ego boosting car, but it’s cute and small. It doesn’t have fantastic gas mileage but it’s not terrible either. And it has a surprising amount of room in it.

Danny's Mommasays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:31 am

P.S. My PT Cruiser is also actually pretty decent in the snow, even without snow tires. I agree with the statement, all wheel drive is for tourists. If you know how to drive in it, you’ll be fine.

Krissays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:42 am

You would be surprised how you can adapt. I went from hving a comfortable four door wagon to a small two door Pontiac g6. Both my kids are still in car seats so it does suck, but we do it. The trunk is huge so we can fit a lot of stuff in it. It’s great on gas and rides real nice.

Sarah Jacobssays:

November 2, 2011 at 5:43 am

I also drive a little Honda Fit and LOVE it. I also live in South Africa, where the biggest car I see is a BMW x3. Trust me, you learn to make do with less space.

Now if you have 3 kids, 2 in car seats, this little car may not work for you. BUT I’ve seen moms with 2 little kids in a Fit and it just, well, fits. The trunk space is huge, fits my massive american themed Jeep Stroller, my laptop and some groceries.

I get amazing mileage, can park ANYWHERE, and feel very safe in my reliable little Honda. It costs us near nothing to run and we will drive it well past the stage where we own it outright.

Annesays:

November 2, 2011 at 6:12 am

I have been driving an Echo since early 2003 and we absolutely love it. We live in Eastern Ontario so we know all about driving in the snow and the Echo handles it just fine. This little car is just like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going, going, going. It has recently hit 168 000km and we’ve only ever had to change the oil and the rear brakes. The trunk is very spacious, back in the day, it could hold a double stroller, a big case of diapers, the diaper bag and all the groceries. I highly recommend it!

Txwintersays:

November 2, 2011 at 6:28 am

I have never driven a big car, even with kids. I have had wagons though (Volvo’s) and now I drive an Audi A4 Avante (wagon). I have two big kids (11 & 16) & drive extra kids a lot as well as lots of stuff. Oh, & our dog goes with me most places. I love my small car, but do like the convenience of the wagon with the fold down seat option for hauling big items. We take my car on car trips to the beach, mountains & always have enough room. I can’t recommend this car for its pricetag though as it IS pricey. However, my experience is that a smaller car works great for our family of 4, plus our pup.

Megan*says:

November 2, 2011 at 6:34 am

I have a Subaru Outback. I love it- my favorite car ever. It doesn’t have the world’s best mpg, but it isn’t terrible either. And all of the other things on my pros list are worth it- all-wheel drive, large cargo area, can fit 2 car seats and 1 big kid in the back seat, reliable, etc. You said you’ve driven a Subaru, so you know already. I’d definitely choose a Subaru with a little less mpg than you ideally want over a puny car with better mpg, especially since you live in Vermont and the awd will come in super handy!

McMomsays:

November 2, 2011 at 7:42 am

I grew up with a brother and a dog all in the backseat of sedans or coupes, and we were just fine. I drive a Malibu Maxx, which I love (but are no longer produced). And the only reason we got a “wagon” like that was so I could fit a stroller in the back without too much work. Some families do need big cars, but I think the whole minivan thing the last 10 or 15 years has tried to convince parents that we ALL need a big car.

Katysays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:05 am

I actually drove a Toyota Echo for over 5 years (until someone smashed it) with three kids – one in a car seat – and I really liked it. I’d still be driving it if it hadn’t been totaled. The trunk on that thing holds an amazing amount of stuff. I could pack for a trip to the cabin for all five of us in the trunk of the Echo. Also, it’s a Toyota so it should go forever. It definitely was a little tight for the kids, but if yours are friendly with Ruby you’ll be fine. I liked it better than my Outback which I just got rid of.

Sarasays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:05 am

I had a Prius for a few years and really liked it (especially as I passed gas stations!). But we bought it at peak gas price and paid WAAAY too much for it. The payment was killing us. It was big enough for our family of 3 for sure, and the dog fit in the hatchback (a requirement of any car for us). We recently traded it for a brand new Mazda CX-7 crossover that was just as loaded and $6000 cheaper. I LOVE it! I missed driving an SUV. I’m only 5 feet tall and I have a complex that makes me enjoy being high up on the road. It has plenty of room and it is a nice looking car. For me, features matter a lot. I will never drive another car that doesn’t have a back-up camera. It also allows me to connect my iphone via bluetooth and stream my ipod or Sirius internet version wirelessly. LOVE it!

Bethsays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:11 am

I have lived in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and eastern Ontario – and I’ve never had anything bigger than a Dodge Neon. Our current car is a Mazda 3. It holds me, my husband, our two daughters (six and four) just fine. In fact, this past summer, we drove to New Mexico in it. Us, our daughters, and everything we needed for a two-week road trip – and we didn’t feel cramped at all. Also, we’ve never been stuck in a snow bank. Good snow tires are all you need. Car companies want you to buy into the we-all-need-a-bigger-vehicle thing, but it’s not so. I always laugh at stupid parents who run out and buy a minivan as soon as they have just one child.

Scott Adlersays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:16 am

Many people above have mentioned the Honda Fit. Of the small cars out there at the moment, it’s universally praised. A 6’5″ dad here loves it for his two-kid family. Might be pricey compared to the Echo.

Honestly, I would go older and bigger. If you can score an older, one-owner car through a private party (Craigslist), that’s the way to go IMHO.

In your neck of the woods, I bet Subarus are plentiful and I loved the Foresters I’ve had over the years. You can pack them to the sills and bomb through the snowbank at the end of the driveway.

May not get the best gas mileage (20s) but it won’t leave you stranded…

My old Subaru made me so cocky I once tried to bomb it up our unplowed driveway after a Nor’Easter and beached it on a drifted whale. I was four feet off the ground. Hubby was not impressed. I’m testing a used VW Passat, a used Saab wagon, and a Matrix today. I am a euro wagon addict/snob without the $ to support my habit.

Laurasays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:40 am

I was just having thoughts about this yesterday: I was trying to think if I knew anyone with 2 kids or more that drive a regular car. I didn’t come up with anyone and that is strange.

My 2 cents: I drive a Nissan Murano (a crossover, I think is the category). I love it, plenty of room for sports equipment, would buy another one. BUT – I gotta say that when my 17 year old stepdaughter is in town and we all five ride together (I have 3 yr old in carseat and 7 year old in booster), it is TIGHT! She handles it well, but she looks miserable sometimes. When I think about it, my Ford Taurus (a ‘regular’ car) that I had when my son was small had more room all the way around than this one does. There was more footroom, I think it was wider (more room with carseats, though we only had one at that time), and I’m sure the trunk had as much room as my Murano’s rear area.

My situation may be different because I’m not talking about the BIG SUV’s or van, but I think you could make out just fine. (I guess I should throw in there that we borrowed my in-law’s van for a beach trip last year and I DID NOT want to give it back….it was soooooo nice for kid travel).

Laura

Kipsays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:41 am

I needed a minivan since we carpool and two kids turns into four. Now that my oldest is 8 she can sit in the front seat. And once we are done with booster seats for the younger ones a sedan would work. I think that’s where you are, so how about buying our 2001 Volvo sedan? It just passed inspection!

Angelasays:

November 2, 2011 at 8:52 am

I have been borrowing my sister’s Echo for the past 2 weeks while between cars. I have 1 child rear facing and I have to put her carseat behind the passenger’s seat and put the passenger’s seat all the way forward. I am actually in search of a carseat that will fit in a small car rear facing without smashing the knees of the people in the front seat so we can use it in my mom’s car. After I put her stroller in the trunk, there isn’t a lot of room for much else. We are planning on expanding our family and there’s no way I would buy such a small car.

Kingsmomsays:

November 2, 2011 at 9:46 am

Betsy, I too used to have your European wagon addiction until I finally got sick and tired of how much more it costs to repair them. Just a friendly reminder…especially if buying used with no warranty.

Aprilsays:

November 2, 2011 at 9:51 am

We are a family of 5= 2 adults, 2 boys (8 & 10) and a baby and we drive a 2 door Honda Civic. It’s small, but it works. We’ve only gotten stuck once in the snow, but that was after we went down one hill and couldn’t make it back up the other side. Now, we don’t drive that road in the snow.

But best of all, it will be paid off in January!!!

Scott Adlersays:

November 2, 2011 at 9:51 am

Dude, no, no, no on a Passat wagon. I know people who lost weight owning Passats from water loss, from the tears they shed at repairs.

Thanks for telling me. I get all crazy and teenager like when I get to drive a zippy manual again. Consider it scratched off the list. Now that Saab wagon I drove today….. just shoot me now. Too nice, good price, but will probably have all the same repair probs as the Volvo in three or four years. The Matrix seemed huge compared to the Echo. I might just go for that one.

Nataliesays:

November 2, 2011 at 9:55 am

I have a 1 year old and drive a MINI Cooper – I get a lot of comments about “how impractical” or “how do you do that” but I LOVE it and will only get a new car when absolutely necessary! You make do with what you have – good luck in your search

Juliesays:

November 2, 2011 at 10:01 am

We drive our cars into the ground! We just “buried” a 97 Malibu. I loved that car and it was very reliable up until the last 6 months. We have 2 kids and it suited us just fine even if it was a little cramped when we went to visit family 8 hours away (a couple times a year). We were getting ready to buy another Malibu, but when we picked up a rental for the week they gave us a Mazda 5. This thing doesn’t know if it’s a car, a minivan or a wagon. I love the sliding doors and the 3rd row. It’s perfect for carting extra kids around, which is happening more and more. Then we can fold the 3rd row flat for more trunk space when we’re going on a road trip or need to haul stuff.

Rebeccasays:

November 2, 2011 at 10:22 am

I dunno, I’m still thinking Betsy needs another Subaru. I loooooved the Forester I had once upon a time, and we had an Outback Sport as well. These are cars that happily go to 200K and won’t kill you $$$wise at the mechanics. I agree with Scott no, no, no on the Passat. I’m skeptical of the Saab too.

I have friends with this car. They love it. I am not seeing any used ones though. Probably because they are so good…?

kmomsays:

November 2, 2011 at 10:42 am

We live in the land of snow far out from the pavement. Ground clearance is a big thing. We made the mistake of buying a little Ford Focus. We LOVE to drive it, and it works for 3 people (kids are too tall for the back seat), BUT it is a risky proposition in the winter—-we might get out of the driveway, but not back home later. Wish we’d thought of that before. Next car we buy in the winter!
With any vehicle, good tires make a big difference. If you get stuck without burying the car, you need better tires.

Jessicasays:

November 2, 2011 at 10:50 am

I’m not the person to ask this question. We have six kids, yes, not two, but still… We just went from a Yukon XL Denali to a Mercedes Sprinter 12 passenger. LOVE the extra room. Can’t have too much storage space!

Hugs4Jacksays:

November 2, 2011 at 11:23 am

Betsy- I was considering a Saab wagon as well until I read the reviews for them on Edmunds-not good. I drove a Mercedes SUV and was determined to get 300k miles on it until we ran into major electrical issues ( the engine & transmission could have easily made it to 300k), we ended up trading it in on a C class and I love it. It’s perfect for our family of 3 and easily accommodated 3 kids in the back seat when we had my nieces for a weekend.

EGSsays:

November 2, 2011 at 11:33 am

Used Toyota Camry here. Gets the four of us around comfortably. Good gas mileage. Inexpensive to maintain and they run forever. Repairs aren’t as expensive as a lot of cars. Only 4 cylinder engine, but it’s a little bigger on the newer models so you’ll have some “oomph”. 127,000 miles and I have no reason to think it won’t reach 200,000. Needs a little bodywork on the edge of the roof above the windshield, but that’s about it.

Well, I’m French, so you probably know what’s coming, right ? I have a Golf and it seems BIG to me, even with 2 kids, ski gear, groceries, etc, because in France, I had a Polo. Same, but smaller. And you know, it’s no big deal to find it on parking lots, even in the snow: it’s in the spot you would think is empty when you look from far away, in between all those huge ones. It’s smaller. With a rack on the roof, it works, and your kids are not in car seats anymore, right ? So you can fit a 3rd one in the back. But do as you want, after all, it’s your car ! You need to like it.

Paulasays:

November 2, 2011 at 11:54 am

We just got rid of our VW Passat wagon after only 7 years and 70,000 miles because we got sick of fixing it. LOVED it otherwise, but it just kept ending up in the shop. We bought an Outback to replace it, and it works great for two kids and hauling stuff around, and the new (2010 and later) 4 cylinder model gets very good mileage for an AWD (29 mpg highway). We live in MN, and we really like having one car with AWD.

Aaronsays:

November 2, 2011 at 12:48 pm

I just bought a Kia Sedona 7-passenger van, we had 2 teenagers, an 18 month old and a baby on the way. It holds a lot, has the best warranty of any car, and it can tow a boat. Recommended!

emmasays:

November 2, 2011 at 1:48 pm

Toyota Matrix, holds 5 people, two booster seats and an infant seat in back & still have leg & head room for the adults up front (I’m 5’8” my husband is 6’ft) and the hatchback allows for plenty of luggage space. We moved my sister from Orlando fl, to Alabama with the afore mentioned two booster and an infant seat us two adults and a hatch full of luggage. It was snug but we mananged and got 35 miles to the gallon! My husband keeps encouraging me to get something bigger since we plan to have more children but I like my matrix just fine tyvm!

Chrissysays:

November 2, 2011 at 9:55 pm

I drive a Nissan Cube and I absolutely love it! The price was exceptional, the gas mileage amazing, and it’s super comfortable, too. There is a ton of headroom and legroom, and the seats are like sitting on couches. I have two kids in car seats, and still plenty of room for at least 6 bags of groceries and various school bags and stuff. Good luck in your search!

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